Los Angeles Area Lakes, July 6 Report

FishRap StaffJuly 6, 2017

CACHUMA: Heat has impacted fishing. The bite on catfish and bass has been slow to fair with a few crappie also showing. The trout are very slow, but a few are still showing for deep trollers. Top spot for the bass and catfish has been the back end of Cachuma Bay and Harvey’s Cove near reeds. Garlic worms and mackerel have been the best for the cats, while plastics and reaction baits are best for the bass. Crappie are best on small jigs on the yellow-green end of the spectrum, mostly in Cachuma Bay. Lots of carp remain up in the shallows. Carp bowfishing permits are available at the entrance gate, and quite a few carp are near the surface. Private boats must be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 30-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. For quagga mussel and the boat launching information, log on here. The marina is open with rental boats available. The boat launch remains open, but boats must get a quagga mussel inspection. Information: 805-688-4040.

CASITAS: The bass action is still fair to good, with the fish showing on topwater, plastics, nightcrawlers, reaction baits, and live shad, if you can dip them. Not many crappie or redear reports with lighter fishing pressure due to warm weather. The trout action has been slow to fair for anglers targeting the rainbows trolling Needlefish near the dam or drifting with nightcrawlers in the same area. DFW trout plants went in last week and three weeks ago. Bowfishing is allowed here for carp and the warm weather brought them up to the surface this week. Carp bowfisherman many only shoot from a boat after 8 a.m., and lake staff must approve bows. Moonlight fishing nights open to all anglers are July 8 and Aug. 5 this year. Night bass tournaments, the RTF Bass Tour, will be held July 15, July 29, Aug. 12, Aug. 26, and Sept. 16. Call Rich Tauber at 818-439-1154 on the night tournament schedule and entry information. Private boats must be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 35-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. Casitas Lake level is 44 percent of capacity. The Santa Ana boat launch is open. Information: 805-649-2043 or www.casitasboatrentals.com.

CASTAIC: The bluegill bite is good to excellent in both the upper and lower lakes. Tons of small fish, but some bigger fish to a pound or better on red worms, nightcrawler pieces, crickets, meal worms, and wax worms fished under bobbers. Most are in the coves around structure. All the bass are fair to good now, with the stripers, largemouths, and smallmouths all up chasing shad. The stripers are best on shad-like swimbaits and cranks, either cast or trolled and there are surface boils most mornings. Also a few on blood worms in 40 to 70 feet of water. For the black bass, some action on reaction baits, but plastic worms and nightcrawlers are as good. Trout are slow, with the most recent plant four weeks ago. No Catfish reports. For information call the marina at 661-775-6232 (www.CastaicLake.com) or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.

PIRU: Fair bite on largemouth and smallmouth bass but the warm weather and dropping water levels has moved the fish into deeper water. The topwater bite has also been good during a narrow window early in the day. Most of the bass are in the one to three-pound range. Bluegill, crappie, and catfish are slow to fair. Best action on bluegill is in four to 12 feet on wax worms or crickets. The launch ramp is open. Rental boats are also available. Information: gatehouse at 805-521-1500 (or at www.camplakepiru.com) or call Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.

PYRAMID: Largemouth bass are fair to good with a lot of fish up chasing baitfish morning and evening, and them moving deeper during the day. The best bite has been on topwater baits early and then reaction baits, plastics and jigs. The striper bite is pretty fair with a lot of fish showing on trolled flies and swim baits, but bait anglers fishing sardines or bloodworms are getting fish, too. Most are one to three pounds now with some bigger. There is a fair catfish bite with the fish moving shallow. Bluegill and redear are fair to good in 10 to 18 feet of water on wax worms and red worms. Trout slow and the most recent DFW trout plants was four weeks ago. There is a health warning about eating fish from here (except the rainbow trout). More information at this link. Information: Emigrant Landing entrance booth at 661-295-7155 or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.

LOS ANGELES/ORANGE COUNTY PARK NEWS: For trout plants, see the list in this report or go to the DFW website for any updates and future plants.